Pretoria — Convicted serial rapist Themba Prince Willard Dube, 36, received eight life sentences with an additional 88 years from the High Court in Polokwane.
TimesLIVE reported that Dube, a Zimbabwean national, was convicted on two counts of rape, six of murder, five of robbery with aggravating circumstances, one of extortion, one of possession of stolen property and another of being an illegal immigrant.
The report adds that Dube was arrested in 2021 for possession of a suspected stolen cellphone that belonged to a woman who was allegedly kidnapped.
While he was in custody, investigations led to the discovery of seven female bodies that had been dumped in the Seshego, Polokwane, Mankweng and Westenburg policing areas.
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“The accused (Dube) came to the Republic of South Africa without a passport or permit during the year 2008. He was initially arrested on 26 October, 2021, for possession of a suspected stolen cellphone that belonged to a woman who was kidnapped in Lebowakgomo in October 2021,” IOL quoted NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi as saying.
“The accused was acquitted on one count of murder, five counts of rape, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and seven counts of kidnapping,” Malabi-Dzhangi added.
News24 reported one of two witnesses who testified as saying that Dube, “came across as a decent person. He never appeared as a person who can commit such heinous crimes”.
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
